Process for preserving timber and other materials



May 14, 1929. A. M. KOBIOLKE 1,713,388

PROCESS FOR PRESERVING TIMBER AND OTHER MATERIALS Filed July 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 14, 1929.

A. M. KOBIOLKE PROCESS FOR PRESERVING TIMBER AND OTHER IATERIALS Filed July 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill Patented May 14, i929.

UNITED STATES ADOIJ' MARTIN KOBIOIiKE, 01' GILDEBOY, AUSTRALIA.

PROCESS FOR PRESERVING TIMBER AND OTHER MATERIALS.

Application filed July 27,1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for preserving timber and other materials and for the destruction of insect and other pests therein and has been devised in order to provide a cheaper and simpler process and apparatus than that at resent in use.

Theprocess of treatment em died in'this invention consists in applying vacuum to withdraw the air from the timber kiln, then forcing thepreserving fluid by air pressure into the kiln, then withdrawing the preserving fluidback to its tank, then imparting a high vacuum to the timber, then suddenly releasing the vacuum allowing a sudden flow of air at atmospheric pressure to rush into the kiln to cause the surplus preserving fluid to be evenly distributed over the pores thereof.

The basic principle embodied in the invention consists in utilizing vacuum to withdraw the sap and open the pores of the timber and then a sudden release of the vacuum to allow the rush of a force such as air into the kiln to force the preserving fluid into and evenly over the surface of the open pores of the timber.

An essential feature of the invention consists in the preliminary steps of withdrawing air from the ti mbcr kiln and then submerging the timber with preserving fluid by the aid of a'foree, such as air pressure, and then withdrawing the unused fluid by a force such as by suction.

A further essential feature embodied in the invention consists in the subsequent steps of drying of! the timber by the application of a high vacuum, which draws the air from all parts of the timber, then suddenly releasing the vacuum to allow a sudden flow of air to rush into the kiln and cause the surplus pre serving fluid on the outside of the timber to be evenly distributed over the surface of the pores thereof to complete the treatment.

A further essential feature consists in the use of live steam which may be fed into the kiln in contact with green timber to remove heavy moisture and after boiling the moisture the steam is withdrawn, by vacuum, which removes the moisture, the pores of the timber being then in a condition to readily absorb the preserving fluid.

A further essential feature consists in the use of a steam coil or coils in the kiln for heating the fumigating liquid to assist the penetration.

A further essential feature consists in the use of creosote as the fumigating fluid.

208,890,'and in Australia August 10, 1926.

' In order that the invention may be more readily understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus employed, and

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the kiln partly in section with the door removed.

The apparatus embodied in the invention consists of a timber kiln 1 and a creosote or other fumigating liquid tank 2. A pipe 3 with valves 4 leads from the fumigating liquid tank 2 to the bottom of the kiln as at 5. On

the top of the tank 2 is an inlet nozzle 6 open to the air but also capable of connection with a flexible pipe 7 leading to a pump 8 or other vacuum producing device.

The pipe 7 is also capable of connection with a pipe 9 with valve 10, the said pipe 9 being fitted at the top of the timber kiln 1.

,/A suitable sight tube 11 for indicating the level of the fumigating fluid is fitted at the rear end of the kiln.

A steam coil 12 is disposed within thekiln 1 and is fed from a boiler 13 by the pipe 14 with valve control 15, the steam exhaust pipe 16 of the coil 12 being fitted with a tra 17.

The timber 18 is mounted on trucks 19 tted with wheels 20 running on rails 21 and the walls are suitably insulated as at 22, the sides of'the kiln being formed with gutters 23 to allow condensation to run off into delivery pipes 24 leading into a sealed jar 25 which receives the condensed matter.

The door 28 of the kiln is hermetically sealed when the process is carried out and it will be obvious that any suitable construction of kiln may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, while a pipe 26 with valve 27 may be fitted to the kiln to feed live steam into the kiln through a pipe (not shown) from the boiler 13 which may be employed particularly when treating green timbers as hereindescribed.

In the process of carrying out the invention the kiln door 28 is opened and the timber is placed in the kiln 1. The kiln 1 is then opened to vacuum through the pipe 7 and the pump is operated to create a vacuum preferably of about 25 inches. After the air in the kiln has been withdrawn the valves 4 on the pipe 3 are opened and air at atmospheric pressure through the pipe 6 then forces the preserving fluid in the tank 2 through the pipe 3 to the kiln 1 until the timber is completely submerged. The timbeixis left submerged at atmospheric pressure for the time required for the preservmg fluid to penetrate the pores thereof to a suflicient extent after which the suction pipe 7 from the pump 8 is connected to the pipe 6 of the fluid tank 2 and by suction the unused fluid is withdrawn back to the tank 2 the valves 4 being then closed. It will be found that there is too much preserving fluid on the timber and further treatment is required. This treatment consists of creating a vacuum as high as possible in the kiln 1 by the pump 8 which is connected by the pipe 7 with the pipe 9 of the kiln. This functions to dry off the timber, the vacuum drawing the air from all parts of the timber. The vacuum is then suddenly released by removing the pipe 7,. thus allowing a sudden flow of air into the kiln which forces the surplus preserving fluid on the outside of the timber to be evenly distributed over the surface of the pores of the timber being treated.

The timber is then withdrawn and it will be obvious that porous timberis more rapidly treated than hard timbers.

In treating green timbers it is preferred that live steam is fed through the inlet 26 into the kiln intoicontact with the timber for a period suflicient to allow the sap to boil and preferably it remains in that state for a period of one hour after which the steam is released and avacuum created throughthe pipes 9 and 7 from the pump 8 which withdraws the surplus moisture and the pores of the timber being open they are then in a condition to readily absorb the preserving fluid and the process above described is then employed.

When treating timbers of extreme density it is advisable to apply the vacuum for a period of time which will allow of the withdrawal of the air from the pores of the timber then by air or steam pressure the preserving fluid is forced into the open pores of the timber and, if necessary, at a pressure higher than atmospheric for at least a corresponding period as more time must be allowed for the penetration and absorption of the denser preserving liquid and'by such penetration-and absorption the pressure is reduced to a degree until the internal pressure is equal to the external pressure.

The steam coil 12 may be used for heating the preserving liquid to assist its penetration and absorption into the'timber.

I desire it to be understood that various modifications may be embodied without de parting from the spirit and scope of the invention, the essential features of which and a form of application as described allow of the ractical exercise of the invention. 7

hat I claim as my invention-and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A process for the purpose specified, comprising applying vacuum to withdraw air from the timber kiln, thenforcing preserving fluid by air pressure into the kiln, then withdrawing the surplus preserving fluid back to its tank, then imparting a high vacuum to the timber, and then suddenly releasing the vacuum to allow a sudden flow of air at atmospheric pressure to rush into the kiln to cause the surplus preserving fluid to be evenly distributed over andin the pores of the timber substantially as described.

4 2. A process for the purpose specified, comprising feeding live steam into contact with the timber to cause the sap to boil, releasing the steam and creating a vacuum to withdraw air and moisture from the kiln, then forcing the preserving fluid by air pressure into the kiln, then withdrawing the surplus preserving fluid back to its tank, then imparting a high vacuum to the timber, and then suddenly releasing the vacuum to allow a sudden flow of air at atmospheric pressure to rush into the to cause the surplus preserving'fluid to be evenly distributed over and in the pores of the timber substantially as described.

Signed at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, this 14th dayof June, A. D. 1927.

ADOLF MARTIN KOBIOLKE; 

